6: Wish Granted

The soft voice that woke me out of my dream has led me to be enveloped by this darkness.

After trying to avoid that pedestrian, I felt that I’m in this void where everything is uncertain.

What am I doing here? Can anybody hear me? What’s going on? How can I get out of this? AM I DEAD?!!!

Then, I begin hearing these sounds. It’s different from the earlier whispers and alluring sound that placed me in this predicament. This one is a more gentle and caring and feminine voice.

“Son….my son...Can you hear me?”

This voice called me her son? Could this be Mama? She’s been dead since I was 10. Oh No! This can’t be! I’M DEFINITELY DEAD!!!

“Son…please answer me! This is your Mom!”

Mom? I never called my mother Mom. I only call her Mama. Who’s this person who claims to be my mother? Then some speck of light started to appear. I guess I should find out what’s going on.

As light started to fill the void, I’m starting to have this feeling like I’m opening my eyes. Unfortunately, as I opened my eyes, everything was a blur. All I can see are vague images and the profile of that person who speaks in a motherly tone.

“Wait, my son. I’ll go get your glasses,” the kind woman said as it seems she is getting something at the corner.

Glasses? I never wore reading glasses in my life. Did that incident impaired my  vision? Then, she handed me a pair of glasses. And when I wore them, everything looked clear, despite the broken lens of my glasses.

I see myself in a hospital room with all these 'get well' cards posted at the board in front of me and a fruit basket on my left side table. Then on my right side is this beautiful woman who called me her son.

I’m guessing she is the same age as me. She had this nice sweet smile, gentle round eyes and dainty nose that would brighten up people’s mood when they see it. She also has this immaculate fair complexion and long brown hair that makes her shine throughout the room. 
Then she hugged me really tight as if we haven’t seen each other for a very long time.

“I’m so happy you are now awake, my son. I’m so worried about you! You’re the only family I’ve got aside from your ailing grandfather! I miss you so much, my son!” she tearfully mentioned while hugging me tight along with soft sobs.

I’m wondering why is she calling me her son? Knowing that we are of the same age, she might have mistaken me for someone. What’s going on here? Where’s Lolit and my boys? I need to find out what’s happening!

“What's going on? Who are you?” I carefully asked while giving that clueless tone. 
She slowly got off from her warm embrace and gave me that bewildered look, saying, “I’m your mother, Tess! Don’t you remember?” 
Now completely confused, I kindly requested, “Can you pass me that mirror on the table below the board with those cards in front of me?” 
“Sure, my son,” she happily complied. And gave me the mirror on that table.

Once I had the mirror, I want to take a good look at what happened to me after that fateful event. And I slowly looked at the mirror, and what I have seen would totally make me jump out of my own skin!

THIS IS NOT ME! I looked totally different! I don’t have my large dagger eyes, strong nose, gray-streaked hair and cleft chin. Instead, I looked like a teenager, with curly dark brown hair, dark deep-set eyes, thick eyelashes, tall defined nose and thin upper lip, albeit some bruises. My jaw dropped and my eyes popping wide open in disbelief!

Upon seeing my dumbfounded reaction, Tess worryingly said, “I better call the doctor to check on you. I’ll be right back, my son!” And she hurriedly left the room.

I was just staring in my mirror looking at my new face and still shocked at what I’m seeing!

Then moments after Tess left the room, someone knocked on the door and opened it (the person didn’t even waited for someone to open the door or at least be acknowledged to enter). She was a nurse wearing a different set of uniform. Instead of the usual scrubs currently worn by nurses and other healthcare workers, she was wearing the old white uniform, typically worn during their capping ceremonies. Her uniform was skimpy that it seems to hug the contours of her body, while wearing a white nurse’s cap and crimson surgical mask.

She then approached me and asked, “How do you like your new look?” 
“What are you talking about, Miss?” I answered back while wondering about what she asked. Then I realized that her sexy tone when she asked me was the same voice that I heard during the accident. 
I quickly looked at her and exclaimed, “It’s you who did this to me! What have you done to me?!” 
“Calm down, sugar. No need to thank me. I just granted your wish. I can’t stand seeing you being tormented by your past, while looking sad and empty,” the sexy nurse said as she is trying to pat me gently at the back. “Allow me to introduce myself.”

After saying that, she took off her crimson mask and I have seen how captivating she was.

I would describe her looks as devilishly angelic. She got this snow white complexion, purple almond eyes with double eyelashes, small dainty nose, soft cheeks and heart-shaped lips that are highlighted by a sophisticated mix of smokey eye shades, jaw-defining blush and deep scarlet lip color. Her jet black hair was properly kept in a bun hairstyle.

In her sultry and soothing voice, she introduced herself, “You may call me Mercer. I hope you liked what I gave you.” Her voice was so relaxing, it's like I’m listening to an evening DJ on radio while trying to wind down. 
Feeling less agitated, I asked her, “What happened to me? Why do I look like this? Who’s that woman who called me her son?” 
“Before you ask that, won’t you like to take a good look at your new self?” she suggestively said.

With me holding my IV fluid stand, she helped me stand up and brought me to the cabinet near the toilet where a full body mirror is located. There, I saw that I’m totally different. Aside from being fair complexioned (bordering to pale), I opened my patient gown and see how toned my body was. I wasn’t this ripped during my teen years and I suddenly tried to touch myself all over to feel this new look.

“You seem to like your new and improved body, Kenneth Philip Ynchausti de Ochoa. Your hands are all over him,” she teasingly remarked. 
“I’m trying to have a feel of my new body. Hey! You haven’t answered any of my questions!” I tauntingly replied. 
Moments later, I hear footsteps heading towards my room, then Mercer said, “Will tell you later. Gotta go!” And she quickly left in a puff of purple smoke.

The door opened, and it was Tess along with a doctor. They were wondering why I’m in the bathroom with my patient gown opened and my hands all over my body.

“What are you doing there, son? I’ll help you get back to your bed,” Tess said as she approached me and helped me get dressed and back to bed. 
While getting back in bed, the doctor expounded about my condition, “I’m glad we have removed the tubes from his body a day before he wakes up. Otherwise, it will be a different story. I’m also surprised that although he was hit by a large vehicle, he only sustained several bruises instead of the usual fractures and hemorrhages.” 
“It is a miracle that he survived that accident with minor injuries. Good thing he was wearing the Miraculous Medal his father gave him. That might have saved him from harm. At least, his father left him something useful,” Tess added. “I would like to ask, Doctor, why doesn’t he seem to remember me though? He was shocked to know that I’m his mother.” 
“He might be experiencing post-traumatic amnesia, or PTA. Although he only suffered bruises, his head was given quite a violent shake, hence the PTA. Let’s just wait for him to recover his memories in time. This is usually temporary,” the doctor pointed out.

While they were discussing that, I’m thinking that I’m not experiencing PTA. I really don’t know who I am. I’m in my new body and I need to know more about him. This is a good excuse for me to learn more about this body. To get things started, I need to know something first.

“Mom, may I know my name?” I prudently inquired Tess. 
With her worried yet caring tone, she said, “Oh dear! My son even forgot his name. No wonder you were exploring  your body like you don’t know who you are. Son, your name is Alex… Alex Charles Loyola.”

When I heard my body's name, I began to remember flashbacks…

---

I was driving my children back home when I had this discussion with my children...

“What are you guys looking at?” I asked. “You seem distressed at what you have seen,” I inquired as Tristan was looking distraught while watching a video on Casper's phone. 
“It’s a video of my teammate, Yola, and his girlfriend, Rina,” Tristan anxiously answered. 
“Yola?” I followed up. 
“Yola is our nickname for Alex Loyola,” Tristan explained.

Then, I had another flashback of me discussing to Mr. Elizalde regarding the video scandal of his daughter...

“In the meantime, what I can suggest is that we blame the leakage to his boyfriend. That way, the ire of the public  would shift from your daughter to her lover… I don’t think he will mind this arrangement since he is also part of the scandal as well,” I explained to Mr. Elizalde.

---

This can’t be right! I’m inside the body of Alex Loyola! What mess have I gotten into? I have incriminated Alex in the scandal and I’m the one who will face this issue! This is very frustrating in my part that I started to have a panic attack.

“My son is having a breakdown, Doc! Please do something!” Tess cried in panic as she hugs me tight to restrain and comfort me. The doctor immediately called the nurse to bring a drug that will help me calm down.

Moments after calming down, I was sitting in my bed with Tess by my side. I feel guilty seeing her worried about me. I hold her hand and sweetly smiled at her, assuring her that I’m okay and I’m feeling better this time. She smiled back at me and kissed my forehead.

I asked Tess, “Mom, what happened to me? I can’t recall anything.” 
“I was at home trying to contact you that evening, but your phone was out-of-reach. It was past 10PM, and I’m worried sick. Then, I called your friends if you were with them and none of them said you were,” Tess narrated. “When they said that, I immediately called the police to ask for any missing boys, but told me to only report once you are gone beyond 24 hours. Moments later, I received a call from a hospital staff, saying that you were rushed to the ER after having an accident. And so, I rushed to this hospital to find you bloody and unconscious. This devastated me, my son! I can’t fathom the pain I was feeling during that time!” 
“But did you know what accident I was involved in?” I followed up. 
Tess recalled, “The ER nurse introduced me to this paramedic who was at the scene of your accident. I asked him and he said that you were hit by a black SUV six blocks away from Montrose, hence your broken glasses. If weren’t for your wallet and school ID, they might not have identified you. Your phone was broken too, but I haven’t checked it since it needs your password to open it.”

I felt relieved that I’m starting to pick up the pieces to find out what happened to Alex during the accident. I hugged Tess to comfort her after letting her remember those harrowing moments.

“I also recalled that both you and the driver of the black SUV were rushed in this hospital. I just found out in the news that the driver was PR man and industrialist, Kenneth Ynchausti,” she added.

Upon hearing my name and knowing that I was driving my black SUV back home, I realized that everything now makes sense. I’m involved in the accident between me and Alex. The pedestrian I was trying to avoid that fateful evening was the owner of this youthful body.

After hugging Tess, I looked to her eyes as I’m about to request something, “Mom, you said the driver who was involved in this accident was also rushed here. Can you bring me to him?” 
The mood on her face changed from being concerned and caring to skeptical and brewing anger. She said, “Bring you to Mr. Ynchausti? Are you sure you want that, son?” 
I absolutely confirmed, “Yes, Mom. Please take me to his room. I want to see him.”